Football: This year's rivalry extra special for Alma, Greenwood

For the final time in the foreseeable future, rivals Greenwood and Alma meet on the gridiron on Friday night.

Alma has added Russellville for its third nonconference game the next two seasons while Greenwood is still searching for a third nonconference game.

For all other sports, Greenwood and Alma will be united in the 5A-West and will play conference games during the next two-year reclassification cycle.

For football, though, this is it and the winner will have bragging rights for a while.

"There’s a lot of different things that make a difference until 7 o’clock until they kick that thing off,” Greenwood head coach Rick Jones said. “At 7:01, it won’t mean a hill of beans. When it’s over, it might mean something again. It’s a rivalry, and we’re looking forward to it. We’re not going to be pouring gasoline on some fire somewhere. There’s plenty of fuel and plenty of incentive to go play great.”

Alma and Greenwood have played continuously since 1975, when they were united in the same conference. Greenwood owns a 24-20 lead in the series during that time, taking the lead with wins the past 12 years, and the home team is 26-18.

It is possible that Greenwood and Alma will be reunited in the same conference after the next cycle with the addition of a new high school in southwest Little Rock, which will open in 2020 as a Class 7A school. That will cause a domino effect. Van Buren is the smallest school in Class 7A and could be bumped down to Class 6A.

Greenwood is the smallest school in Class 6A and could be bumped down a classification as well, back with Alma.

It’s all about one night for now.

Friday, the Airedales know what they’re in for against the Bulldogs, who are rolling offensively.

In victories against Northside and Southside, Greenwood had 12 first-half possessions and have scored 10 touchdowns and kicked two field goals. The Bulldogs scored 17 points in each of the first two quarters in a 34-7 win against Northside, and then scored three touchdowns in each of the first two quarters in a 49-0 blanking of Southside.

"They do not leave points off the board; they’re going to get their points," Alma head coach Doug Loughridge said. "Their offense is rare, but their defense is very good as well."

Greenwood’s defense didn’t allow a point in the first half against Northside or Southside.

"Their defense is equally as good as far as what they’ve given up," Loughridge said. "They’re not going to beat themselves. They’re very solid, and they play hard."

Alma saw perhaps the best defensive player in the state last week in defensive tackle Isaiah Nichols of Springdale. This week, the Airedales get to see Greenwood’s Jon Womack, who tied a state record at the state weightlifting meet in April held at Alma.

"He’s a state champion power clean guy," Loughridge said. "We saw him power clean 375 pounds. Here’s the difference between the two; Springdale had the best overall player that we’re going to see all year and Greenwood is probably going to have the best overall defensive line unit. The talent that Nichols has, he can get by you. He’s a magic man.

"Womack is a big, strong, ‘you’re not standing in my way’ guy."

Alma’s been led thus far this season by the 1-2 punch of quarterback Garrison Jensen and receiver Brayden Johnson, who is a matchup problem.

"He’s tall and he’s athletic," Jones said. "The guy does everything. He’s a multi-purpose guy. He’s a matchup nightmare for everybody; he’s a playmaker. When I watched Jensen play, and I’ve seen him play before, you swear he’s 6-4, 240 pounds. I downloaded the roster just to see what they listed him as, and he’s 6-0, 215. He’s so tough and physical, and he’s competitive. He’s an impressive kid.”

Jensen has thrown for 381 yards and four touchdowns and run for 218 yards and two scores. Johnson has caught 14 passes for 148 yards and two scores.

"Between the two of them, it’s a really good duo," Jones said. “They’re an interesting team to prepare for. Shifts and motions, offensively, and they do a lot of stuff.”

Connor Noland has thrown for 452 yards and four touchdowns for Greenwood while Peyton Holt has been an all-round playmaker with a touchdown pass, a rushing touchdown and two receiving touchdowns.

Van Buren at Siloam Springs

The Pointers and Panthers are playing the most important game of their season on Friday, both wanting to stop a two-game skid and go into conference play off a win.

“We feel like we let two get away from us that we should have had,” Werner said. “This one we really need. Anytime you can go into conference play feeling good about things and better about yo

Siloam Springs also feels like it let one slip away in the opener against Rogers, losing 34-33.

"They played awfully good against Rogers, and should have won the game except for some untimely mistakes," Werner said. "They should have beat Rogers. They definitely have some talent and the kids that can play."

Siloam Springs also has the incentive of homecoming festivities.

"It’s their homecoming," Werner said. "They’re going to be excited, so we’ll have to give it our best effort."

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